Cooling device, method for manufacturing a cooling device, and transport device having a cooling device

Abstract

A cooling device having a vaporizer for vaporizing a working liquid, wherein the working liquid is held on a vaporizer bottom; a compressor for compressing a vaporized working liquid, wherein the compressor is configured to convey the vaporized working liquid from the bottom to the top in a setup direction; a liquefier having an upper wall configured such that the vaporized and compressed working liquid is condensable at the upper wall and drips down from top to bottom; and an intermediate bottom configured to collect a dripped-down working liquid, wherein the intermediate bottom comprises at least one opening through which the dripped-down working liquid may reach the vaporizer bottom.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A cooling device, comprising:
 a vaporizer for vaporizing a working liquid, wherein the working liquid is held on a vaporizer bottom; 
 a compressor for compressing a vaporized working liquid, wherein the compressor is configured to convey the vaporized working liquid from a bottom of the cooling device to a top of the cooling device in a setup direction that is adopted for the operation of the cooling device; 
 a liquefier comprising an upper wall configured such that the vaporized and compressed working liquid is condensable at the upper wall and drips down from top to bottom; and 
 an intermediate bottom configured to collect a dripped-down working liquid, wherein the intermediate bottom comprises at least one opening through which the dripped-down working liquid may reach the vaporizer bottom; 
 wherein the vaporizer is configured as a lower unit, and the vaporizer bottom is configured as a lower heat transmitter, 
 wherein the liquefier is configured as an upper partial unit, and the upper wall is configured as an upper heat transmitter, 
 wherein the compressor and the intermediate bottom are configured in a central unit, and wherein seals are configured at interfaces between the units and the upper partial unit, respectively, and 
 wherein the cooling device is operated at an internal pressure of less than half of the atmospheric pressure so that, due to the atmospheric pressure, the upper partial unit and the lower unit are pressed onto the central unit. 
 
     
     
       2. A cooling device, comprising:
 a vaporizer for vaporizing a working liquid, wherein the working liquid is held on a vaporizer bottom; 
 a compressor for compressing a vaporized working liquid, wherein the compressor is configured to convey the vaporized working liquid from a bottom of the cooling device to a top of the cooling device in a setup direction that is adopted for the operation of the cooling device; 
 a liquefier comprising an upper wall configured such that the vaporized and compressed working liquid is condensable at the upper wall and drips down from top to bottom; and 
 an intermediate bottom configured to collect a dripped-down working liquid, wherein the intermediate bottom comprises at least one opening through which the dripped-down working liquid may reach the vaporizer bottom, 
 wherein the upper wall is configured as a lamella wall, and/or wherein the vaporizer bottom is configured as a lamella wall, wherein the lamella bottom comprises at least one lamella balance element so that an essentially uniform working liquid level is formed along the lower lamella wall, and wherein a working liquid filling in the cooling device is dimensioned such that a level of the working liquid on the vaporizer bottom is between 10 and 70% of a lamella height of the lower lamella element. 
 
     
     
       3. A transport device or building, comprising:
 an interior space; 
 the cooling device according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the cooling device is arranged at the transport device or the building such that the vaporizer bottom is arranged in the interior space, and wherein the upper wall of the liquefier is in thermal contact with an area around the transport device or outside of the interior space of the building. 
 
     
     
       4. The cooling device according to  claim 2 , wherein the vaporizer bottom is configured to be brought into direct contact with an area to be cooled, in use, and/or wherein the upper wall of the liquefier is configured to be brought into direct contact with an area to be heated, in use. 
     
     
       5. The cooling device according to  claim 2 , wherein the compressor is configured as a turbo compressor comprising a compressor wheel, a conduction path for a working vapor conveyed by the compressor wheel, and a drive motor for the compressor wheel,
 wherein the vaporizer is configured as a lower unit, and wherein the liquefier is configured as an upper partial unit, wherein the vaporizer wheel and the conduction space are located between the lower unit and the upper partial unit, and wherein the drive motor extends into the upper partial unit. 
 
     
     
       6. The cooling device according to  claim 2  configured to use water as a cooling agent, wherein the liquefier is configured to operate at a liquefier pressure below 300 mbar, and
 wherein the vaporizer is configured to operate at a vaporizer pressure that is less than the liquefier pressure and is below 150 mbar. 
 
     
     
       7. The cooling device according to  claim 2  comprising a cuboid-shaped dimension with a height of less than 50 cm and a length or width of less than 100 cm. 
     
     
       8. The cooling device according to  claim 2  wherein a wall thickness of the upper wall and/or the vaporizer bottom is less than 1 mm, or wherein the vaporizer bottom or the upper wall are made of metal. 
     
     
       9. A transport device or building, comprising:
 an interior space; 
 the cooling device according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the cooling device is arranged at the transport device or the building such that the vaporizer bottom is arranged in the interior space, and wherein the upper wall of the liquefier is in thermal contact with an area around the transport device or outside of the interior space of the building. 
 
     
     
       10. The cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the vaporizer bottom is configured to be brought into direct contact with an area to be cooled, in use, and/or wherein the upper wall of the liquefier is configured to be brought into direct contact with an area to be heated, in use. 
     
     
       11. The cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor is configured as a turbo compressor comprising a compressor wheel, a conduction path for a working vapor conveyed by the compressor wheel, and a drive motor for the compressor wheel,
 wherein the vaporizer is configured as a lower unit, and wherein the liquefier is configured as an upper partial unit, wherein the vaporizer wheel and the conduction space are located between the lower unit and the upper partial unit, and wherein the drive motor extends into the upper partial unit. 
 
     
     
       12. The cooling device according to  claim 1  configured to use water as a cooling agent, wherein the liquefier is configured to operate at a liquefier pressure below 300 mbar, and
 wherein the vaporizer is configured to operate at a vaporizer pressure that is less than the liquefier pressure and is below 150 mbar. 
 
     
     
       13. The cooling device according to  claim 1  comprising a cuboid-shaped dimension with a height of less than 50 cm and a length or width of less than 100 cm. 
     
     
       14. The cooling device according to  claim 1  wherein a wall thickness of the upper wall and/or the vaporizer bottom is less than 1 mm, or wherein the vaporizer bottom or the upper wall are made of metal. 
     
     
       15. A cooling device, comprising:
 a vaporizer for vaporizing a working liquid, wherein the working liquid is held on a vaporizer bottom; 
 a compressor for compressing a vaporized working liquid, wherein the compressor is configured to convey the vaporized working liquid from a bottom of the cooling device to a top of the cooling device in a setup direction that is adopted for the operation of the cooling device; 
 a liquefier comprising an upper wall configured such that the vaporized and compressed working liquid is condensable at the upper wall and drips down from top to bottom; and 
 an intermediate bottom configured to collect a dripped-down working liquid, wherein the intermediate bottom comprises at least one opening through which the dripped-down working liquid may reach the vaporizer bottom, 
 wherein the upper wall is configured to be planar, and wherein a structure for providing a plurality of fluid channels through which the air or liquid as a cooling medium for the upper wall is able to be guided is attached on the upper wall and outside of an interior space of the cooling device, and/or 
 wherein the vaporizer bottom is configured to be planar, and wherein, at the vaporizer bottom, a structure for providing a plurality of fluid channels through which the air or liquid may be guided as a medium to be cooled is configured outside of an interior space of the cooling device. 
 
     
     
       16. The cooling device according to  claim 15 , wherein the planar surface of the upper wall in the interior of the cooling device or a surface of the vaporizer bottom in the interior of the cooling device is configured to be structured so as to provide a seed effect for vaporizer seeds or condensation seeds. 
     
     
       17. A transport device or building, comprising:
 an interior space; 
 the cooling device according to  claim 15 , 
 wherein the cooling device is arranged at the transport device or the building such that the vaporizer bottom is arranged in the interior space, and wherein the upper wall of the liquefier is in thermal contact with an area around the transport device or outside of the interior space of the building. 
 
     
     
       18. The cooling device according to  claim 15 , wherein the vaporizer bottom is configured to be brought into direct contact with an area to be cooled, in use, and/or wherein the upper wall of the liquefier is configured to be brought into direct contact with an area to be heated, in use. 
     
     
       19. The cooling device according to  claim 15 , wherein the compressor is configured as a turbo compressor comprising a compressor wheel, a conduction path for a working vapor conveyed by the compressor wheel, and a drive motor for the compressor wheel,
 wherein the vaporizer is configured as a lower unit, and wherein the liquefier is configured as an upper partial unit, wherein the vaporizer wheel and the conduction space are located between the lower unit and the upper partial unit, and wherein the drive motor extends into the upper partial unit. 
 
     
     
       20. The cooling device according to  claim 15  configured to use water as a cooling agent, wherein the liquefier is configured to operate at a liquefier pressure below 300 mbar, and
 wherein the vaporizer is configured to operate at a vaporizer pressure that is less than the liquefier pressure and is below 150 mbar. 
 
     
     
       21. The cooling device according to  claim 15  comprising a cuboid-shaped dimension with a height of less than 50 cm and a length or width of less than 100 cm. 
     
     
       22. The cooling device according to  claim 15  wherein a wall thickness of the upper wall and/or the vaporizer bottom is less than 1 mm, or wherein the vaporizer bottom or the upper wall are made of metal. 
     
     
       23. A cooling device, comprising:
 a vaporizer for vaporizing a working liquid, wherein the working liquid is held on a vaporizer bottom; 
 a compressor for compressing a vaporized working liquid, wherein the compressor is configured to convey the vaporized working liquid from a bottom of the cooling device to a top of the cooling device in a setup direction that is adopted for the operation of the cooling device; 
 a liquefier comprising an upper wall configured such that the vaporized and compressed working liquid is condensable at the upper wall and drips down from top to bottom; and 
 an intermediate bottom configured to collect a dripped-down working liquid, wherein the intermediate bottom comprises at least one opening through which the dripped-down working liquid may reach the vaporizer bottom, 
 wherein the intermediate bottom is configured such that one or several deepest possible points are at a periphery of the cooling device, and such that a dripped-down working liquid on the intermediate bottom runs from a central area to the periphery, and 
 wherein the at least one opening is a drill hole that is present at the periphery, dimensioned such that it acts as a throttle between the vaporizer and the liquefier. 
 
     
     
       24. The cooling device according to  claim 23 , wherein the periphery comprises at least three corners, and a drill hole is present at each corner, or a drill hole comprises a diameter of less than 6 mm and more than or equal to 0.5 mm. 
     
     
       25. A transport device or building, comprising:
 an interior space; 
 the cooling device according to  claim 23 , 
 wherein the cooling device is arranged at the transport device or the building such that the vaporizer bottom is arranged in the interior space, and wherein the upper wall of the liquefier is in thermal contact with an area around the transport device or outside of the interior space of the building. 
 
     
     
       26. The cooling device according to  claim 23 , wherein the vaporizer bottom is configured to be brought into direct contact with an area to be cooled, in use, and/or wherein the upper wall of the liquefier is configured to be brought into direct contact with an area to be heated, in use. 
     
     
       27. The cooling device according to  claim 23 , wherein the compressor is configured as a turbo compressor comprising a compressor wheel, a conduction path for a working vapor conveyed by the compressor wheel, and a drive motor for the compressor wheel,
 wherein the vaporizer is configured as a lower unit, and wherein the liquefier is configured as an upper partial unit, wherein the vaporizer wheel and the conduction space are located between the lower unit and the upper partial unit, and wherein the drive motor extends into the upper partial unit. 
 
     
     
       28. The cooling device according to  claim 23  configured to use water as a cooling agent, wherein the liquefier is configured to operate at a liquefier pressure below 300 mbar, and
 wherein the vaporizer is configured to operate at a vaporizer pressure that is less than the liquefier pressure and is below 150 mbar. 
 
     
     
       29. The cooling device according to  claim 23  comprising a cuboid-shaped dimension with a height of less than 50 cm and a length or width of less than 100 cm. 
     
     
       30. The cooling device according to  claim 23  wherein a wall thickness of the upper wall and/or the vaporizer bottom is less than 1 mm, or wherein the vaporizer bottom or the upper wall are made of metal. 
     
     
       31. A cooling device, comprising:
 a vaporizer for vaporizing a working liquid, wherein the working liquid is held on a vaporizer bottom; 
 a compressor for compressing a vaporized working liquid, wherein the compressor is configured to convey the vaporized working liquid from a bottom of the cooling device to a top of the cooling device in a setup direction that is adopted for the operation of the cooling device; 
 a liquefier comprising an upper wall configured such that the vaporized and compressed working liquid is condensable at the upper wall and drips down from top to bottom; and 
 an intermediate bottom configured to collect a dripped-down working liquid, wherein the intermediate bottom comprises at least one opening through which the dripped-down working liquid may reach the vaporizer bottom, 
 wherein a liquefier-side ventilator and a vaporizer-side ventilator are arranged to generate an air flow past the vaporizer bottom or the upper wall, respectively, wherein a motor axis is connected to both ventilators to drive the ventilators with a single motor. 
 
     
     
       32. The cooling device according to  claim 31 , wherein the liquefier-side ventilator is arranged to be driven by an external flow of a cooling medium,
 wherein the vaporizer-side ventilator is able be driven without a motor, 
 wherein a controller is further configured to monitor a rotational speed of a ventilator, and, in case of too little a rotational speed, to increase the rotational speed by means of the motor, and/or, in case of too large a rotational speed, to generate electrical power by means of the motor in a generator operation. 
 
     
     
       33. A transport device or building, comprising:
 an interior space; 
 the cooling device according to  claim 31 , 
 wherein the cooling device is arranged at the transport device or the building such that the vaporizer bottom is arranged in the interior space, and wherein the upper wall of the liquefier is in thermal contact with an area around the transport device or outside of the interior space of the building. 
 
     
     
       34. The cooling device according to  claim 31 , wherein the vaporizer bottom is configured to be brought into direct contact with an area to be cooled, in use, and/or wherein the upper wall of the liquefier is configured to be brought into direct contact with an area to be heated, in use. 
     
     
       35. The cooling device according to  claim 31 , wherein the compressor is configured as a turbo compressor comprising a compressor wheel, a conduction path for a working vapor conveyed by the compressor wheel, and a drive motor for the compressor wheel,
 wherein the vaporizer is configured as a lower unit, and wherein the liquefier is configured as an upper partial unit, wherein the vaporizer wheel and the conduction space are located between the lower unit and the upper partial unit, and wherein the drive motor extends into the upper partial unit. 
 
     
     
       36. The cooling device according to  claim 31  configured to use water as a cooling agent, wherein the liquefier is configured to operate at a liquefier pressure below 300 mbar, and
 wherein the vaporizer is configured to operate at a vaporizer pressure that is less than the liquefier pressure and is below 150 mbar. 
 
     
     
       37. The cooling device according to  claim 31  comprising a cuboid-shaped dimension with a height of less than 50 cm and a length or width of less than 100 cm. 
     
     
       38. The cooling device according to  claim 31  wherein a wall thickness of the upper wall and/or the vaporizer bottom is less than 1 mm, or wherein the vaporizer bottom or the upper wall are made of metal. 
     
     
       39. A cooling device, comprising:
 a vaporizer for vaporizing a working liquid, wherein the working liquid is held on a vaporizer bottom; 
 a compressor for compressing a vaporized working liquid, wherein the compressor is configured to convey the vaporized working liquid from a bottom of the cooling device to a top of the cooling device in a setup direction that is adopted for the operation of the cooling device; 
 a liquefier comprising an upper wall configured such that the vaporized and compressed working liquid is condensable at the upper wall and drips down from top to bottom; and 
 an intermediate bottom configured to collect a dripped-down working liquid, wherein the intermediate bottom comprises at least one opening through which the dripped-down working liquid may reach the vaporizer bottom, the cooling device further comprising a drip tray outside of a vaporizer space of the cooling device in order to collect a condensate from the vaporizer bottom or from an element in thermal interaction with the vaporizer bottom, wherein the cooling device further comprises a conduit configured to bring the collected condensate into thermal interaction with an outside of the upper wall in order to generate an adiabatic cooling for the upper wall. 
 
     
     
       40. A transport device or building, comprising:
 an interior space; 
 the cooling device according to  claim 39 , 
 wherein the cooling device is arranged at the transport device or the building such that the vaporizer bottom is arranged in the interior space, and wherein the upper wall of the liquefier is in thermal contact with an area around the transport device or outside of the interior space of the building. 
 
     
     
       41. The cooling device according to  claim 39 , wherein the vaporizer bottom is configured to be brought into direct contact with an area to be cooled, in use, and/or wherein the upper wall of the liquefier is configured to be brought into direct contact with an area to be heated, in use. 
     
     
       42. The cooling device according to  claim 39 , wherein the compressor is configured as a turbo compressor comprising a compressor wheel, a conduction path for a working vapor conveyed by the compressor wheel, and a drive motor for the compressor wheel,
 wherein the vaporizer is configured as a lower unit, and wherein the liquefier is configured as an upper partial unit, wherein the vaporizer wheel and the conduction space are located between the lower unit and the upper partial unit, and wherein the drive motor extends into the upper partial unit. 
 
     
     
       43. The cooling device according to  claim 39  configured to use water as a cooling agent, wherein the liquefier is configured to operate at a liquefier pressure below 300 mbar, and
 wherein the vaporizer is configured to operate at a vaporizer pressure that is less than the liquefier pressure and is below 150 mbar. 
 
     
     
       44. The cooling device according to  claim 39  comprising a cuboid-shaped dimension with a height of less than 50 cm and a length or width of less than 100 cm. 
     
     
       45. The cooling device according to  claim 39  wherein a wall thickness of the upper wall and/or the vaporizer bottom is less than 1 mm, or wherein the vaporizer bottom or the upper wall are made of metal. 
     
     
       46. A method for manufacturing a cooling device, comprising:
 arranging a vaporizer for vaporizing a working liquid so that the working liquid is held on a vaporizer bottom, and above a liquefier, wherein the liquefier comprises an upper wall configured such that, at the upper wall, a vaporized working liquid compressed by a compressor is condensable and drips down from top to bottom; and 
 arranging an intermediate bottom such that a dripped-down working liquid is collected, wherein the intermediate bottom comprises at least one opening through which the dripped-down working liquid may reach the vaporizer bottom, 
 wherein the intermediate bottom is configured such that one or several deepest possible points are at a periphery of the cooling device, and such that a dripped-down working liquid on the intermediate bottom runs from a central area to the periphery, and 
 wherein the at least one opening is a drill hole that is present at the periphery, dimensioned such that it acts as a throttle between the vaporizer and the liquefier.